Decorative accessory

ABSTRACT

A decorative accessory including a generally spherical body supported on the upper peripheral edge of a support member. The body includes a generally hemispherical base and a cover adapted to be interconnected to the base, the cover being in the shape of a spherical segment. A recess is formed within the cover by a cylindrical wall depending from the exposed edge of the cover. The cylindrical wall is adapted to retain a decorative insert within the recess.

United States Patent [1 1 Okuhara et a1.

[ DECORATIVE ACCESSORY [76] Inventors: Hid eno N. Okuhara; Hiroko L. Okuhara, both of 6449 N.

Greenview Ave., Chicago, Ill.

[22] Filed: Sept. 18, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 289,827

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 177,689, Sept. 3,

1971, abandoned.

[52] US. Cl. 161/18, 240/10.l, D48/20 K [51] Int. Cl 1344f 7/00 [58] Field of Search 161/18, 16; 248/181, 81,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,509,068 9/1924 Herron 248/181 2,748,952 6/1956 Fleit et a1... 248/349 2,918,568 12/1959 Steber 240/10.1

[451 Apr. 30, 1974 D204,303 4/ 1966 Mellyn D48/20 K D224,233 7/1972 Fujita D48/20 K 3,179,791 4/1965 Mole 240/l0.1 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,135,507 12/1956 France 161/18 Primary Exa minerWilliam E. Schulz Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Dressler, Goldsmith, Clement & Gordon, Ltd.

[ ABSTRACT 9 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENIEmraso I974 3'808' 081 sum 1 or 3 PATENTEMaso I974 SHEET 2 OF 3 l/flf PATENTED PR IHH 131808.081

SHEEI 3 0F 3 FIG. 8

DECORATIVE ACCESSORY This application is a continuation-in-part of our copending application for Decorative Accessory," Ser. No. 177,689, filed Sept. 3, I97] and now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Many items used as accessories in interior decorating often' have a potential of more than one use. For example, many accessories are not only used because of inherent attractiveness or compatibility with the interior decorating scheme but also for some functional purpose. Thus, such items may also act as a container, as a mirror, as a picture frame, and even as a light source.

In modem or contemporary decors, such accessories may take the basic form of common geometric shapes suitably adapted for their intended use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention there is provided a modern or contemporary decorative accessory which is also functional, for example, it may be a container, a mirror or picture frame or a light source.

The accessory of the present invention incorporates a body including a generally hemispherical base portion having a removable cover member in the form of a spherical segment. A generally cylindrical wall is formed integrally with and depends from the open top of the cover memberto define a recess adapted to contain a decorative insert, such as, for example, a mirror or photograph. V

This, hollow body is adapted to be rotatably supported on a support member, the upper peripheral edge of which is generally circular and is tapered to conform to the spherical surface of the body;

The body may be positioned at an almost infinite number of angular positions on the support member, and because the efiective center of gravity of the body, is equivalent to that of a complete sphere, the decorative structure is stable in any of the selected positions.

If desired, the hemispherical base may be hollow and act as a container or may serve a number of alternative uses such as support for a light if the structure is to be used as a source of light. In this case, the decorative insert or the body itself might conveniently be light transmissive, either transparent or translucent, to permit passage of light from the interior of the body.

Numerous other advantages and features of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and of one embodiment thereof, from the claims and from the accompanying drawings in which each and every detail shown is fully and completely disclosed as a part of this specification, in which like numerals refer to like parts.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the structureof the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the structure of FIG. 1 showing the body supported inone position in solid lines and in an alternative position in dotted lines;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the components of the structure of the present invention;

FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7 are enlarged, partial sectional views of the body showing various embodiments for attaching the decorative insert thereto.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, partial sectional view of the bodyshowing another embodiment in which the decorative insert is rotatably supported therein;

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the components forming the rotatable insert support of FIG. 8; arid FIG. 10 is a view of the base including supports for a shelf to be retained therewithin.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail a preferred embodiment of the invention and modifications thereof, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated. The scope of the inven tion will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, the decorative assembly of the present invention incorporates a generally spherical-like body 10 comprised of a hemispherical hollow base 12 to which is attached a cover member 14 shaped in the shape of a spherical segment 15. The edge portion 16 of the hemispherical base 12 is threaded to facilitate interconnection of the base 12 and the cover l4.'Alternative methods for interconnecting the base 12 and the cover 14 may also be used.

The cover member 14 is in the shape of a spherical segment 17 open at both ends. The edge portion 20 is interiorly threaded for interconnection with the base 12. A generally cylindrical wall 24 is formed integrally with the cover member 14 and depends from the free edge portion 26 of the cover member 14.

The recess 28 formed by the depending cylindrical wall 24 is adapted to receive an appropriate decorative insert 30 which may take the form of a mirror, a photograph, or any other suitable decorative member.

The body 10 is adapted to be supported on a support member 32 shown as having a generally Cylindrical wall 34. The upper peripheral edge 36 of the cylindrical wall 34 is tapered to conform to the generally spherical shape of-the body 10. The body 10 is slidably supported on'the tapered surface 38 and is rotatable thereon to almost an infinite number of positions, two of which are illustrated in FIG. 2.

Although the generally spherical body 10 is not a complete sphere, the additional weight of the decorative insert 30 and the cylindrical wall 24 formed as part of the cover member 14 is sufficient to effectively provide a center of gravity the same as if the body were a complete sphere. It is because of this that the body is stable at almost any angular position on the support member 32.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the hemispherical spherical base 12 has a radius of approximately 3 inches. The depth of the cover member is approximately one-half the radius of the hemisphere, 1%: inches, with the depth of the depending cylindrical wall being approximately one-half the depth of the cover member. The diameter of the support member 32 is about 4 inches. I

The insert 30 may be attached to the cover and retained within the recess 28 in a number of ways. As seen in FIG. 4, the recess may be closed at its inner end by a back plate 40 and the insert 30 may be suitably affixed or adhered to the exposed surface of the back plate 40. In FIG. 5, the back plate 40' is formed with a generally axial boss 42 extending inwardly toward the base 12. To facilitate attachment of the insert 30', the boss may be interiorly threaded to receive a threaded stud 44 formed on the back of the insert 30.

Alternatively, as seen in FIG. 6, a spring-like clip 46 may be formed on the back of the decorative insert 30", the spring-like insert being adapted to pass through and to be resiliently retained by the boss 42.

An alternative approach for insertion of the insert is shown in FIG. 7. In this embodiment, the inner, free edge 48 of the cylindrical wall 24' is threaded to receive a complementarily threaded decorative insert 30". This embodiment is particularly suitable if it is desired to illuminate the decorative insert, which could be light transmissive. A light source 50 (see FIG. 3) mounted interiorly of the base 12 would provide a source of illumination for an insert, or the body itself if made of a light transmissive material.

In FIGS. 8 and 9, there is shown yet another embodiment in which the insert is rotatably supported within the cover 14. In this embodiment, a pair of pivot supports 50 are located between the spherical segment and the depending cylindrical wall 240. Each of the pivot supports 50 is generally L shaped, the extension 52 of which includes a bore 54 adapted to receive a pivot pin 56 which extends radially from the periphery of an insert frame 58.

The insert frame 58 may be formed in two halves, 58a and 58b which, when joined together define an insert retaining groove 60. The insert is placed between the frame halves 58a, 58b, which are joined together to retain the insert therein. Each of the pivot pins 56 is inserted into the bore 54 of a pivot support 50 which are then adhered to the cover 14 as shown in FIG. 8.

In this embodiment both sides of the insert may be exposed simply by rotating the frame 58. The frame may be frictionally retained in position by the frictional engagement with the inner end of the depending cylindrical wall 240. This frictional force is readily overcome when the frame is rotated.

One example of a two sided insert is a mirror, one side of which is a plane mirror, the other side of which is a magnifying mirror.

In FIG. 10 there is shown a base 12 in which are formed shelf supports 62 on which a shelf 64 of suitable configuration may be supported. Such a shelf may, for example, incorporate recesses, pockets or other devices for holding articles in place within the base 12.

Thus, there has been disclosed a decorative accessory which may also serve other functions, e.g., as a container, mirror, picture frame, or light source. The decorative accessory is simple and inexpensive, while simultaneously adapted to fit in with modem or contemporary decor while serving a functional purpose.

From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concept of the invention. It is, of course, intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A decorative accessory comprising: a generally spherical hollow body member comprised of a hemispherical hollow base, and a cover member adapted to be removably interconnected to said base, said cover member having an external configuration in the shape of a generally spherical segment; a generally cylindrical wall formed within said cover member and depending from the exposed peripheral edge thereof, said cylindrical wall defining a recess within said cover member, a decorative insert, means associated with said generally cylindrical wall for retaining said decorative insert in alignment with said recess, a support member having a generally circular peripheral edge adopted to support said body member, said peripheral edge being tapered to conform to the generally spherical shape of said body member, whereby said body member is supported on said tapered peripheral edge and is universally positionable on said support member and is stable at a large indetermenate member of positions relative to said support member.

2. A decorative accessory as claimed in claim 1 wherein said generally cylindrical wall terminates in a back plate closing said recess.

3. A decorative assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein said back plate and said insert include complementary generally axially extending members adapted for cooperative engagement to retain said insert within said recess.

4. A decorative assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein said complementary generally axially extending members are threaded.

5. A decorative assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the internal edge of said generally cylindrical wall is threaded and is adapted to receive said insert, said insert having a complementary threaded periphcry.

6. A decorative assembly as claimed in claim 1 including a source of light supported within said body, whereby said body and said insert may be illuminated.

7. A decorative assembly as claimed in claim 1 including means for rotatably supporting said decorative insert in alignment with said recess whereby both sides of said insert may be exposed to view through said recess.

8. A decorative assembly as claimed in claim 7 including a frame for supporting said insert, said frame including a pair of diametrically opposed pivot pins extending radially out from said frame,

a pair of pivot supports each having a bore to receive said pivot pins,

said pivot supports being located between said depending cylindrical wall and the outer spherical segment of said cover and being bonded thereto.

9. A decorative assembly comprising: a generally spherical hollow body member supported on and universally positionable relative to a support member; said body member comprised of a generally hemispherical hollow base and a generally open ended cover member adapted to be removably interconnected to said base member, said cover member having an external configuration in the shape of a generally spherical segment and having an axial dimension approximately one-half the radius of said hemispherical base; a generally cylindrical internal wall depending from the exposed peripheral edge of said cover member to define a recess within said cover member, said cylindrical wall having an axial dimension less than the axial dimension of said cover member; and a decorative insert retained in alignment with and adjacent to the inner end of said recess; said support member having a generally circular peripheral edge adapted to support said body, said peripheral edge being tapered to conform to the generally spherical shape of said body, whereby said body when 

1. A decorative accessory comprising: a generally spherical hollow body member comprised of a hemispherical hollow base, and a cover member adapted to be removably interconnected to said base, said cover member having an external configuration in the shape of a generally spherical segment; a generally cylindrical wall formed within said cover member and depending from the exposed peripheral edge thereof, said cylindrical wall defining a recess within said cover member, a decorative insert, means associated with said generally cylindrical wall for retaining said decorative insert in alignment with said recess, a support member having a generally circular peripheral edge adopted to support said body member, said peripheral edge being tapered to conform to the generally spherical shape of said body member, whereby said body member is supported on said tapered peripheral edge and is universally positionable on said support member and is stable at a large indetermenate member of positions relative to said support member.
 2. A decorative accessory as cLaimed in claim 1 wherein said generally cylindrical wall terminates in a back plate closing said recess.
 3. A decorative assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein said back plate and said insert include complementary generally axially extending members adapted for cooperative engagement to retain said insert within said recess.
 4. A decorative assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein said complementary generally axially extending members are threaded.
 5. A decorative assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the internal edge of said generally cylindrical wall is threaded and is adapted to receive said insert, said insert having a complementary threaded periphery.
 6. A decorative assembly as claimed in claim 1 including a source of light supported within said body, whereby said body and said insert may be illuminated.
 7. A decorative assembly as claimed in claim 1 including means for rotatably supporting said decorative insert in alignment with said recess whereby both sides of said insert may be exposed to view through said recess.
 8. A decorative assembly as claimed in claim 7 including a frame for supporting said insert, said frame including a pair of diametrically opposed pivot pins extending radially out from said frame, a pair of pivot supports each having a bore to receive said pivot pins, said pivot supports being located between said depending cylindrical wall and the outer spherical segment of said cover and being bonded thereto.
 9. A decorative assembly comprising: a generally spherical hollow body member supported on and universally positionable relative to a support member; said body member comprised of a generally hemispherical hollow base and a generally open ended cover member adapted to be removably interconnected to said base member, said cover member having an external configuration in the shape of a generally spherical segment and having an axial dimension approximately one-half the radius of said hemispherical base; a generally cylindrical internal wall depending from the exposed peripheral edge of said cover member to define a recess within said cover member, said cylindrical wall having an axial dimension less than the axial dimension of said cover member; and a decorative insert retained in alignment with and adjacent to the inner end of said recess; said support member having a generally circular peripheral edge adapted to support said body, said peripheral edge being tapered to conform to the generally spherical shape of said body, whereby said body when supported on said tapered peripheral edge of said support member is stable at a large indeterminate number of positions. 